PLANS to create a synthetic sports area at a special school look likely to win approval.

Durham County Council's planning committee will be recommended on Wednesday to grant permission for the development at Harelaw Special School, Catchgate, near Stanley.

The school wants to build the new surface and extend the car park for staff and visitors on land that is already partly in use as playing fields.

The scheme would also entail the relocation of temporary storage containers.

A report to the committee says that hard play areas, storage and parking spaces at the school are limited.

Head of planning John Suckling said in a report: "The playing surface would be of bitumen with an artificial grass carpet."

The car park extension would help to improve the circulation of coaches and mini-buses picking up pupils.